Ep 95 | It's Okay Not to Feel Okay

Hey friends! In this vulnerable, honest episode of She Finds Joy, I’m inviting you into a raw conversation that we don’t have nearly enough—about those days when things just aren’t okay.

I showed up for this recording in my running clothes, with no makeup and messy hair, because it felt important that you see the real, unfiltered Kim Strobel. The truth is, behind the social media highlight reels and the smiles, every single one of us has times when life feels heavy, we feel stuck, and joy feels far away.

 

Key Topics Covered:

 

• It’s Okay to Not Feel Okay:  Let’s break the silence around those moments when your outside life looks shiny, but inside, you’re struggling. I open up about my own experience—how I’ve been feeling off lately, no matter how hard I hustle or strive. And I promise you: it’s okay to have these feelings. You are not failing just because you’re in a tough season.

 

• Seasonal Shifts and Emotional Realness:  I share why fall always feels hard for me, even though there’s so much to love about it. Is it the shift from the busy energy of summer into quieter days? Is it saying goodbye to the high of speaking on stages and trading it for more time alone in my office? Just know, it’s normal to feel a little lost or off-track when the seasons of life change.

 

• Social Media vs. Real Life:  On my own Facebook page, I share both the highlights and the struggles. It’s easy to scroll and feel like everyone else has it all together, but I want you to remember—there’s so much more happening behind the scenes in everyone’s life than you see online.

 

• Giving Yourself Permission to Pause:  Sometimes, after we’ve tried everything to push forward, the wisest thing we can do is pause. Allow yourself to sit in the discomfort. Resist the urge to “fix” everything right away. Maybe it’s a time of preparation, a space for something new to grow.

 

• The Wisdom of My Grandmother:  My grandma—the happiest person I’ve known—would order dessert first and get her hair done to lift her mood. Maybe we need to take a cue from her and find the small, nurturing ways to care for ourselves while we wait for the light to return.

 

• You Are Not Alone:  I name the hard realities I’m moving through right now, acknowledging it’s tough. Comparison creeps in, and it often feels like others are further ahead. But you are not broken, and you are not less than.

 

Action Steps:

 

• Be gentle with yourself. Give yourself permission to feel the way you do right now.
• Share your feelings with someone you trust—even if you can’t fix them, you don’t have to carry them alone.
• Find one small way to care for yourself today—a walk, music, dessert first, or just pausing.
• Remind yourself: “I don’t have to have it all figured out yet.”
• Listen to the song “It’s Okay” by Nightbird—the message is powerful and healing.

 

Notable Quotes:

 

“You’re not failing, even though it feels like you’re behind everyone else.”

“Maybe you don’t always have to be fixing your life—sometimes it’s okay to just be where you are.”

“You are not alone in these feelings—so many of us feel the same way sometimes.”

“If you need inspiration, remember Nightbird’s song: It’s Okay.”

 

Listener Challenge:

 

Take a moment and ask yourself: Where in your life do you feel ‘behind’ or ‘not enough’? What’s ONE small act of kindness you can offer yourself today?

 

Share your story! Tag @KimStrobelJoy on Instagram—I’d love to hear about the moments when you let yourself not be okay, and what helps you through.

 

Connect & Share:

 

• Screenshot the episode and share it with a friend who needs encouragement.
• Leave a review at kimstrobel.com/review—your words help this message reach even more people.
• Subscribe so you never miss an episode full of truth, hope, and real-life support!

 

You are never alone. You are worthy of kindness, compassion, and grace—especially in the hard seasons. Thank you for listening, thank you for showing up as your authentic self, and thank you for letting me walk beside you on this journey toward joy and wholeness.

 

With love and realness,

 

Kim Strobel